A Crazy Summer

Summer has really flown by with very little time for much painting.  I didn't mind however because the good times I had with family, friends and travel more than made up for the lack of time to paint.  I did complete a couple of paintings. The first was done for my daughter-in-law.  She wanted to have a painting of trees as you looked up through the sky at them.  It was a challenge to get the perspective correct but the end product was "just what I wanted" according to Jill. I also completed a pastel of a moose that I called "Crossing Calm Water".   The art cruise I took up through the inland passage of Alaska gave me the inspiration to paint my other studio piece.  On board with us were 60 professional Santa's.  They were so much fun to have on board as everywhere they went they were dressed as Santa's in red, white and green.  Some of their outfits were crazy and some were very sophisticated.  They always brought a smile to one's face when you met them on board.  Santa Lyle posed for us and while I wasn't able to paint him in person I painted him from a photo I took of him as he posed.  Here are these three paintings. Hope you enjoy.

Perpetual Summer 36" x 40" acrylic

Crossing Calm Water 11" x 14" Pastel

Santa Lyle 11" x 14 Oil

Getting Back To My Art

"American Bison" oil  photographed by Roger Head

"King of Kauai" oil  Photographed by Jennifer Slaughter

"Across the Lake" acrylic  Photographed at Florence Lake Willow Alaska

I haven't pulled up this page since my last post on May 3rd 2012.  It kind of shocked me to see that I had such great art plans for that summer.  Unfortunately on May 8th 2012, I was diagnosed with the big "C" and for almost two years I didn't have the energy or concentration to create art or to write my blog.  I have gradually come back to art and hopefully I can write what I want to say.  Believe me "Chemo Brain" is a real affliction.  Needless to say I missed the Great Alaska Plein Air retreat put on by the Painted Ladies and also the Betts workshop. Well enough about that.  I am healthy now and intend to stay that way for some time to come and I had a blast on the Great Alaska Plein Air retreat this year which was a cruise through the Alaska Inland Passage.  We painted in every port and I was able to complete a couple of paintings that I liked.  I posted them on Facebook so won't post again here.   I also took a class painting with Alcohol Ink.  What a free form of art that is.  One never knows what you will end up with.  I will post the results of that class when I get the photos downloaded.  This past winter while living in beautiful Kayenta I also painted a couple of pictures that I haven't posted so I will add them to my blog.  Hope you enjoy.